Albert Pujols and Tony LaRussa finally received what they’ve asked for:  protection for the best hitter in the majors.  Matt Holliday was traded from the Oakland A’s to the Cardinals within the last few hours in exchange for top prospect Brett Wallace (3B), the Birds first round pick a year ago from Arizona State.  Also in the deal the Cardinals send Shane Spencer (OF) and Clayton Mortensen (P).  The A’s will reportedly pay $1.5 of the $6 million left on Holliday’s contract this season.

Holliday struggled out of the gate this year with the Oakland but has been on a tear over the last month.  He makes the Cardinals lineup instantly better and will have plenty of RBI opportunities hitting cleanup behind Pujols.  You might remember the Cardinals almost sent a package of Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker to Colorado in exchange for Holliday before he was traded to Oakland.

My biggest question?  Can the Cardinals resign Holliday?  He turned down a four-year $72 million extension with the Colorado Rockies.  Albert Pujols still has two years remaining on his contract, but would he accept not being the highest paid player on the team?  Probably not… the Cardinals would likely have to tear up the current contract and work on the much anticipated extension.

Currently, the Cardinals are the clear favorite to take the NL Central crown, but do they have enough to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies?  The Holliday trade comes just in time for a tough seven game stretch for the Cards beginning tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Philly.  Then the Cardinals return home for four games against the Dodgers.

Earlier this week the Cardinals traded OF Chris Duncan (son of Cards pitching coach Dave Duncan) to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for SS Julio Lugo and cash considerations.  Duncan never got a fair shake in St. Louis.  He was also ragged on whether he did well or performed poorly.  For that reason I’m happy that he will have a chance to play in the American League.  He was always known in St. Louis as Dave’s son and many thought he was only here because of his dad.  Chris had two seasons of 20+ homers and has battled injuries.  2006 was one of the seasons where Duncan was a big producer and the Cardinals just so happened to win the World Series.  Duncan by nature is not a LF, the position he played in St. Louis since first base is occupied by some player named Pujols.  Duncan fits in much better as a 1B/DH.  Best of luck to Chris in Boston.

Projected Cardinals lineup with addition of Matt Holliday:

2B Skip Schumaker

CF Colby Rasmus

1B Albert Pujols

LF Matt Holliday

RF Ryan Ludwick

3B Mark DeRosa

C Yadi Molina

Pitcher

SS Brendan Ryan

Looks pretty good to me…